Futuristic Hybrid Ferry on Norwegian Fjords

The construction of the carbon fibre vessel is already underway at Brødrene Aa AS, which also came up with the concept. The ferry design is inspired by a trail finding its way up a steep mountainside.

The vessel’s concept has been named Seasight by the shipbuilder Brødrene Aa. It measures 40 meters in length and 15 meters in width. Outside the ferry, passengers will be able to climb all over the boat while the inside will feature panoramic views and 450 seats. Anstein Aa from Brødrene Aa AS says, “This is one of the most exciting vessels we have ever constructed in terms of both aesthetics and technology.”

The ferry will couple its striking appearance with ABB’s cutting edge maritime hybrid solution. ABB will supply a compact and lightweight version of the award winning Onboard DC Grid system that will manage and control the energy flow between the diesel engine, propeller and charging station. The Onboard DC Grid is a key enabler in efficiently integrating energy storage into modern marine power systems through its DC infrastructure and integrated power and energy management system. In the case of the Seasight, the Onboard DC Grid will transfer energy to the battery during charging, which will happen at both ends of the voyage, and whilst the diesel engines are running.

You can learn more about this project in the December issue of Skipsrevyen.